When an appliance breaks, calling the repairman or buying a new one might be your first instinct, but experts say you can prevent the problems all together.
Appliances often take a beating, but are always there to heat a meal, wash a favorite t-shirt, or clear grease from a plate. Experts say they can use a little tender love and care, too.
"My washer was making a small puddle on the floor during the spin cycle and it was very noisy," said resident Yolanda Conders.
Her washing machine broke down leaving her wondering if the break could have been prevented. "This is new for me. It is a learning experience for me as well," Conders said.
We found the experts willing to share their secrets with her and us!
Dishwasher
Appliance store owner Darren Hyatt says you can use a dishwasher cleaning product and run it on the hottest setting to clear blockages.
"That dissolves all the food, grease, and soil that builds up in the machine like what was under the door," Hyatt said.
He says wipe residue on the seal of the door to prevent sticking. You can also take out the filter in the bottom of your dishwasher and wash it out in the sink. Getting rid of mineral build up on parts and spray holes helps keep an old washer working like new. You'll find mineral cleaners on store shelves. You can place many of those products in the silverware tray. Run the dishwasher empty and let it work its magic.
Range Vents and Oven
Hyatt says range vents should be maintained, too. He says they get clogged and make the system work harder. But he says they're easy to pop out and clean. If scrubbing with soap and water doesn't work, try ammonia. Hyatt says if you have a gas range you can keep the gas pumping efficiently by unclogging the source. "The best way to clean them out is with a needle or a straight pen," Hyatt said.
Dirty ovens can break down, too. "Most ovens have removable oven bottoms. You can take out two thumb screws in the back, lift the bottom out and take it to the sink for easy cleaning so you don't have to lean back into the oven to wash it," Hyatt said.
Refrigerator
You can prevent build-up on refrigerator motors too. Build up on the refrigerator door gaskets cause them to stick and break. That lets cold air out of your fridge which forces it to work harder. That results in motor burn out and high electric bills. Experts say when cleaning them, don't forget the bottom under side. Otherwise they cost about $100 to replace.
Hyatt says discovering what's covering your condenser coil could save you the purchase of a new fridge too.
Air Conditioner and Heater
Air conditioner coils should be kept clean as well. Experts say kill the power to your unit to prevent being shocked, then clean the coils. They say use water only, on low pressure.
"Compressed air can damage the coils and hurt the efficiency of the unit," said Overholt Heating and Air Owner Brad Overholt. He says to insulate the large copper line on the outside of the unit going into your home for better efficiency.
Overholt says keep the main line insulated and keep the grass short around the unit. "The taller the grass gets around the unit, the more dust it traps behind it and the more dust gets sucked in," Overholt said.
Overholt reminds homeowners to keep the filters fresh on the inside of the home. He says the cleaner they are, the less work the units have to do. Keep the temperature consistent in the summertime and vacuum out any debris that might be around your heater each fall. Check both units for air leakage and use a silicone sealant to fix leaks. Overholt says the sealant can be found at most hardware stores.
If you have a floor furnace, Overholt says clean it out a couple of times a year as well. He says floor furnaces can collect debris easily, especially if there are children in the home. This prevents fires and provides better efficiency. Be sure to turn the gas and pilot light off first. If you have a window unit, Overholt recommends you change the filter out every month to prevent motor burnout.
"If you let the temperature of your house go up 5 degrees while you are at work and then come home at 5 when it is 95 degrees out and turn it back down 5 degrees, your unit will run until midnight trying to cool all of the solids back off," Overholt said.
Clothes Washer and Dryer
Cleaning out the lint tray on your dryer is just the first step in preventing a fire according to experts. Hyatt recommends picking up a lint brush with a long handle to get the lint that is hard to reach. He says take out the lint tray and dig in. A similar tube can be used to clean out the exhaust tube.
"If your dryer is taking too long to dry, always check the vent," Hyatt said. "It needs to be as short and as straight as possible. If there is too much vent hose, when you push the dryer back into place, it can actually collapse." Hyatt said. If you have a front loader washer and dryer, you know they can often get moldy. Hyatt says always keep the front door of the washer open when
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